July 2026 NewsletterHey friends — whoops, it's been a minute!
In this month's Newsletter:
Caltrans Kids Day — FCBC Lends a Hand!On June 18th, Caltrans hosted their annual Caltrans Kids Day — a youth safety event just for Caltrans employees' children. Our very own John Liu — recently retired from Caltrans, Registered Traffic Engineer, and League Cycling Instructor with the League of American Bicyclists — was on hand helping run the show alongside our friends at Caltrans and the California Highway Patrol. The morning was packed with helmet fittings, skills courses, and a super-fun obstacle course, while CHP distributed kids' bike helmets to make sure everyone rolled away safe. About 50 young riders joined in, and their energy was absolutely unforgettable. It's always a joy when our members bring the Coalition's values into their own community — and John did exactly that. Huge thanks to Caltrans and CHP for putting on such a great event, and to John for representing FCBC so well!
A Bittersweet Transition — Thank You, Edna!We have some big news from the Board. Our beloved Chair, Edna Pedroza, has moved away from Fresno. As of this month, John Liu — our Vice Chair — is assuming the role of Acting Chair. Many of you know John from his superhero-like dedication to writing these newsletters each month for years, his work as a bike commuter to Caltrans, and his passion for organizing kids' bike rodeos exactly like the one we just hosted. We are in fantastic hands. Please join us in thanking Edna for her massive contributions and cheering on John as he leads us forward!
Coming Up: FSTI Bike Academy — July 27-31Once again, FCBC is contracting with the Fresno State Transportation Institute (FSTI) to provide bike training at their annual Bike Camp — happening July 27–31, 2026. This is a closed program for students within the school district, and we're honored to be invited back year after year to help make it happen. Our volunteers will be leading a packed slate of activities:
We're grateful for the various bike shops around Fresno that have donated generously to help Bike Camp get rolling! And with Samantha Gonzales and other veteran volunteers guiding young riders, it's shaping up to be a landmark week for safety skills and confidence. Seasonal Safety Tip — Riding When It's Still 90° at 9pmIt's extremely hot — even late into the night. If you can, ride in the early morning when Fresno is at its coolest and calmest. If you must ride in full sun:
And here's a tip we love: stop by any of our local bike shops around Fresno County and ask the folks there for their favorite heat-beating advice. These people live and breathe cycling in this valley — they're a wealth of knowledge on everything from the best ventilated helmets to hydration strategies that actually work in triple-digit weather. Plus, it's always a great time to visit your local bike shop, whatever time of year!
Advocacy Update — What We're WatchingEven in a quiet summer, advocacy never sleeps. At our July 21st Board meeting, we dug into a packed slate: Preserving Safe Bikeways (CalBike-sponsored). This bill would prohibit removing state-funded bikeways for 20 years unless the change preserves safety, accessibility, and mobility for non-motorized users. It's aimed directly at protecting Class IV protected facilities — the kind that make riding in Fresno feel safe and inviting. CalBike ATP Reform. CalBike is pushing to reform the Active Transportation Program to favor bikeways linked to transit and true network development — not one-off fragments. That's exactly how we build a connected Fresno. E-bike Safety Education Bill. Would require the CA Department of Education + CHP to develop standardized e-bike safety and training for grades 7–12. Our board member Nick was skeptical about the implementation, but we agree on the goal: every kid deserves real safety education. Federal: A tough shift — FHWA quietly removed bike infrastructure, bike lanes, road diets, speed safety cameras, variable speed limits, and appropriate speed limits from its list of 28 proven safety countermeasures. That list drives federal funding. Bicycle fatalities are already on an upward trajectory nationwide, and removing these tools makes our advocacy locally even more important. Investing in bike infrastructure reduces traffic congestion, lowers healthcare costs, and strengthens local economies — Fresno knows this. Local — Measure C Renewal: The citizen initiative Better Roads Safe Streets qualified for the ballot, but the Board of Supervisors voted 3–2 to order a 30-day impact study, pushing it past the August 7th deadline for the November ballot. It's now expected in March 2028. Current Measure C expires June 30, 2027 — so we're likely looking at a ~1 year lapse in the half-cent transportation sales tax. We'll keep you posted on what this means for active transportation funding.
Meeting ScheduleOur General Membership and Board meetings are open to the public and held via Zoom. Our next meeting is the third Tuesday of August — August 18th — at 6:30 PM. Come say hi — we'd love to hear about your experiences bicycling in the county! To our Loyal Membership:This quiet summer is intentional — we're recharging for a busy fall. Coffee Outside is coming back in October (final date TBD — coming soon!), and we'll be gathering for World Day of Remembrance in November to honor those killed and seriously injured on our roads. FCBC is a volunteer-operated 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 2001. 2026 is our 25th anniversary year! Your support literally keeps the wheels turning.
And yes — our Bike Station mobile bike kitchen, Light Up the Night free bike lights, Smart Cycling classes, and kids' rodeos all run on your generosity.
General Membership and Board meetings: Third Tuesday of the month, 6:30 PM on Zoom — check fresnobike.org/calendar for updatesIn this month's Newsletter: Facebook: fresnobike | Instagram: @fresnobike Contact: [info@fresnobike.org](mailto:info@fresnobike.org)
Ride safe, stay cool, and see you out there when the heat breaks! |
